Diane Lee Dokkebakken, 76, a resident of Fergus Falls, Minnesota died Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at the Broen Home in Fergus Falls.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, February 23, 2018, with a 6:30 p.m. public prayer service at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church. The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 24, 2018, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls with Rev. Tom Peterson officiating. Interment will be in Our Redeemer’s Cemetery, Benson.

LaVayne Langan passed away on Tuesday, February 13th at her daughter’s home in Reno, NV with family by her side. She was 89 years old.

She was born on October 27, 1928, the daughter of Martin and Goldie Rovang. LaVayne grew up on the family farm in Bryant, South Dakota; she started her education in a one-room school house and graduated with a degree in teaching from Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD.

Teaching was more than an occupation for LaVayne, it was a passion. She started teaching in Watertown, SD and then moved to Benson, MN in her early 20’s to start the kindergarten program. She had countless wonderful memories of students and colleagues from her time teaching in the Benson school district. She taught for over 50 years and felt privileged to have been part of so many young lives. Multiple generations of families had Mrs. Langan as a teacher.

Lisa Marie Bonebright, 54, of Mitchell, SD, formerly of Benson, Minnesota, died Thursday, February 15, 2018, at her residence in Mitchell, SD. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., Saturday, February 24, 2018, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson. Interment will be in St. Francis Catholic Church Cemetery in Benson.

Lisa Marie Bonebright, 54, was born September 13, 1963 in Estherville, IA, the daughter of Dale and Rosemary Dahl (Soat). She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Faith. She grew up and attended school in Appleton and Benson. She graduated from Benson High School in 1982, attended the Dental Assistant program at Canby Vo-Tech, and graduated in 1983.

Funeral services for Elizabeth “Liz” Ritter of Graceville, Minnesota, formerly of Chokio will be Friday, February 16, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chokio, MN, with Father John Paul Knopik serving as celebrant for the service. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., with a rosary at 5:00 and a prayer service at 7:00 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chokio and one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Burial will be at a later date in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, near Chokio.

Mundwiler and Larson Funeral Home announces the death of Sue Kaercher-Blake, age 53, resident of Ortonville, MN.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 10, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ortonville. Rev. Richard Larson will officiate. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, one hour prior to the service.

Ortonville and Big Stone County have lost one of their most optimistic personalities, community advocate, and longtime business promoter with the passing of Sue Kaercher-Blake, age 53, on Monday, Feb. 5th, 2018, Ortonville native and owner-publisher of The Ortonville Independent and The Northern Star weekly newspaper.

Suzette Jone Kaercher-Blake was born in Ortonville on January 5th, 1965, the daughter of James Kaercher and Jeanette (Buechler) Kaercher.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence in 1997; son, Jim in 2012; a son in infancy; her parents; 4 sisters; and 4 brothers. At Lola’s request, a private family graveside service will be in the St. Bridget’s Catholic Cemetery in DeGraff at a later date.

Marion J. Bommersbach, 78, died on Monday afternoon, January 29, 2018 at the Swift County Benson Health Services in Benson.

Visitation will be held from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, followed by a memorial service in the Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church Chapel at 1:00 pm, on Friday, February 2, 2018. Burial will be at a later date in Kindred, North Dakota.

Marion Jane (Dokken) Bommersbach, was born March 13, 1939, in Benson, Minnesota, the daughter of Carl Melvin and Olive Louise (Halls) Dokken. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church. She grew up in Benson and graduated from Benson Senior High School. In 1963, she was united in marriage to Bernard John Bommersbach in Minot, North Dakota. She owned and operated a beauty shop in Kindred, North Dakota. Marion moved back to Benson in 2012 to be closer to her family.